Log grapple



Jan. 6, 1959 J. B. GOLDEN 2,867,470

LOG GRAPPLE Filed March 15, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. .JAQ; 5.6QLDEM W S ATTORNEYS Jan. 6, 1959 J. B. GOLDEN 2,867,470

LOG GRAPPLE Filed March 15, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 N M .3 {5 .L

INVENTOR. JAQK 8.6014994 ATTO QHEff United States Patent LOG GRAPPLE Jack B. Golden, Bellflower, Calif.

Application March 15, 1957, Serial No. 646,367 6 Claims. (Cl. 294-85) This invention relates generally to cable-suspended hoisting or lifting devices or. grapples, and in'particular has reference to a device of this nature that is designed to be used with special facility in lifting elongated logs generally approximating 8 feet in length, in a plywood mill, with the hoisting device being adapted for automatically releasing the logs when they are placed in the barker or lathe.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a generally improved device of the character stated, which will be so designed as to include grappling hooks that will automatically be disposed in outer, log-disengaging positions responsive to releasable locking of an associated support linkage for said grappling hooks, said hooks being adapted, when the linkage is unlocked, to swing to log-engaging positions responsive to upward pull upon a cable supporting the linkage, to permit a log .to be hoisted and moved to the desired location.

Another object is to so design the grapple that when the log is at the desired location, a relaxation of an upward pulling force on the cable will permit a weight carried by the cable to exert pressure on the hook-supporting linkage such as to operate the grappling hooks to log disengaging positions.

Another object is to provide, in association with the hooks and linkage, a support structure including means guiding the log and the grapple into relativepositions effective to properly locate the hooks for engagement in the ends of the log, said support structure being further adapted to support the linkage-locking mechanism.

Another object is to provide a grapple of the character stated that will be inexpensively constructed, will be rugged, and substantially trouble-free in operation.

Other objects will appear from the following description, the claims appended thereto, and from the annexed drawing, in which like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a grapple or hoist according to the present invention, as it appears when in use, the hooks being shown in log-engaging positions, the log being illustrated fragmentarily;

Figure 2 is a plan sectional View substantially on line 2-2 of Figure 1, the log being shown fragmentarily and in dotted lines;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional View on line 33 of Figure 1',

Figure 4 is an enlarged, detail sectional view of one of the hook assemblies, substantially on line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 1 in which the device is in log-disengaging position; and

Figure 6 is an enlarged, detail section on line 66 of Figure 5.

Referring to the drawings in detail, designated at 10, 12 are elongated, flat, straight links, comprising the components of a toggle, said links being overlapped and pivotally connected at their inner ends by a cross pin 2,867,470 Patented Jan. 6, 1959 14. In embracing relation to the links is an upwardly projecting, pivoted loop 16, the legs of which have eyes receiving the cross pin. Cotter keys 18 are extended through end openings of the cross pin, to hold the links and loop in assembled relation.

A support cable 20 is connected to the loop 16, and freely slidable upon said cable is a weight 22.

Outer link elements 24, 26 of identical but opposite construction are pivotally connected at their inner ends by pins 28 to the outer ends of the links 10, 12 respectively. Links 24, 26 are longitudinally slidable in guide tubes 30, 32, having non-circular bores complementing the cross sectional shapes of the links 24, 26 so as to hold said links against rotational movement within the tubes.

Identical but opposite grappling hooks 32, 34 are formed with enlarged intermediate portions pivotally connected at 36 to the outer ends of the links 25, 26, said hooks swinging in a common vertical plane. The upper ends of the hooks are apertured, and receive one end of flexible elements 38, the other ends of which are connected to upwardly projecting lugs 40 formed upon the innerends of the tubes 30, 32. Elements 38 limit swinging movement of the hooks at their upper ends beyond the logengaging positions shown in Figure 1. Further, it will be observed that on movement of the links 24, 26 outwardly within the tubes from their Figure l to their Figure 5 positions, the hooks will be caused to swing in opposite directions about their respective pivots, to their Figure 5 positions, in which positions the lower ends of the hooks will be swung away from each other to dis engage a log A. This results from the fact that the elements 38 prevent the upper ends of the hooks from swinging in these circumstances, so that the hooks .must necessarily pivot as described about the axes of the pins 36 when the links 24, 26 are shifted outwardly within the tubes 30, 32.

An elongated, straight support bar 42 of I-beam material has oppositely beveled ends welded to tubes 30, 32 in longitudinally contacting relation therewith, with the tubes extending in upwardly convergent relation.

Offset slightly to one side of the midlength point of support bar 42-is a pivoted, hook-shaped detent 44 (Fig-' ure 6) swinging in a plane normal to the length of support bar 42 about a pivot pin 46. Pin 46 is welded or otherwise fixedly secured to bar 42 below a slot 47 through which detent 44 may swing from its Figure 1, released position to a locking position shown in Figures 5 and 6, in which it hooks over link 12 when links 10, 12 are in longitudinal alignment as in Figure 5.

Welded to the underside of end portions of support bar 42 are downwardly opening, arcuate saddles 48 straddling log A in the use position of the parts (Figures 1 and 2) to properly locate the grapple in position for engagement of hooks 32, 34 with the ends of the log.

in use, initially detent 44 will be in locking position with the toggle means 10, 12 straightened out to shift the outer links 24, 26 outwardly, causing hooks 32, 34 to pivot in clockwise and counterclockwise positions respectively, viewing the same as in Figure 5. This spaces the hook-shaped lower ends of the hooks 32, 34 outwardly from one another a maximum distance. The device is swung to position over a log, and is lowered for disposition of the saddles 48 in embracing relation to the log.

D'etent 44 is then released by the operator, it being understood that it may have a pull cable or similar element, not shown, to facilitate its movement to releasing position from a remote location. This, however, would not ordinarily be necessary in view of the fact that when the device is lowered into position to engage a log, a 1

worker would be standing by to facilitate proper positioning of the device, and this worker may discharge the duty of throwing the detent 44 to a releasing position.

In any event, with detent 44 now in its Figure 1 position, pull on cable 20 is exerted in an upwarddirection,

and this operates the toggle links 10, 12 to their Figure 1 position, causing the same to pull the links 24, 26 :inwardly. This causes the hooks 32, 34 to pivot from their Figure 5 to their Figure 1 positions, causing the lower ends of the hooks to engage in the ends of the log.

The log is now lifted and swung to the position in which it is to be released for further conditioning by a barker or lathe, not shown.

When the log'is in position to be released, the same is. lowered, and pull on the cable is slackened. Weight22 exerts, now, a downward pressure upon the toggle, tending to straighten out the same to its Figure 5 position, thus causing the hooks 32, 34 to disengage the log. Detent 44 may now be swung upwardly once again to hold the parts in locked position, until the device is ready to be engaged with the next log.

It is believed apparent that the invention is not necessarily confined to the specific use or uses thereof described above, since it may be utilized for any purpose to which it may be suited. Nor is the invention to be necessarily limited to the specific construction illustrated and described, since such construction is only intended to be illustrative of the principles, it being considered that the invention comprehends any minor change in construction that may be permitted within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed:

1. A log grapple comprising: elongated support means including guides at opposite ends thereof; links shiftable toward and away from each other within the respective guides; grapple hooks pivoted intermediate their ends on the links outwardly from the ends of the support means for swinging movement about horizontal axes in opposite directions between log-engaging and -disengaging positions responsive to movement of the links toward and away from each other, respectively; a flexible element connected between one end of the hooks and said support means, the other ends of the hooks being formed with logengaging, confronting teeth; a toggle connected between the links arranged for extension and contraction in a direction longitudinally of the support means for shifting the links toward and away from each other; a suspension cable connected to the toggle for contracting the same responsive to upward pull on the cable; and means on the cable for operating the toggle to extended position responsive to the creation of slack in the cable.

2. A log grapple comprising: an elongated, horizontal support bar; guides rigidly secured to the respective ends thereof, said bar and guides together constituting a support means; links slidably shiftable toward and away from each other within the respective guides; grapple hooks pivoted intermediate their ends on the links outwardly from the ends of the support bar for swinging movement about horizontal axes in opposite directions between log-engaging and -disengagaing positions responsive to movement of the links toward and away from each other; a flexible element connected between one end of the hooks and said support means, the other ends of the hooks being formed with log-engaging, confronting teeth; a toggle connected between the links arranged for extension and contraction in a direction longitudinally of the support bar for shifting the links toward and away from each other; a supension cable connected to the toggle intermediate the ends of the toggle for contracting the same responsive to upward pull on the cable; and means on the cable for operating the toggle to extended position responsive to the creation of slack in the cable.

3.. A log grapple comprising: an elongated, horizontal support bar; tubularguides rigidly secured to the respective ends thereof, said bar and guides together constituting a support means; links slidably shiftable toward and, away,

from each other within therespective guides; grapple hooks pivoted intermediate their ends on the links outwardly from the ends of the support bar for swinging movement in opposite directions in a common plane between log-engaging and -disengaging positions about horizontally extending axes disposed transversely of the support bar, responsive to movement of the links toward and away from each other; a flexible element connected between one end of the hooks and said support means, the other ends of the hooks being formed with log-engaging, confronting teeth; a toggle connected between. the links arranged for extension and contraction in a direction longitudinally of the support bar for shifting the links toward and away from each other; a suspension cable connected to the toggle intermediate the ends of the toggle for contracting the same responsive to upward pull on the cable; and means on the cable for operating the toggle to'extended position responsive to creation of. slack in the cable.

4. A log grapple comprising: an elongated, horizontal support bar; tubular guides rigidly secured to the respective ends thereof, said bar and guides together constituting a support means; links slidably'shiftable toward and away from each other within the respective guides; grapple hooks pivoted intermediate their ends on thelinks outwardly from the ends of the support bar for swinging movement. in opposite directions in a common plane between log-engaging and -disengaging positions about horizontally extending axes disposed transversely ofothewsupport bar, responsiveto movement of the links toward and away from each other; a flexible element connected, between one end of the hooks and said. support means, the other ends of the hooks being formed with logengaging, confronting teeth; a toggle connected between the links arranged for extension and contraction in a direction longitudinally of the support bar for shifting the links toward and away from each other; a suspension cable connected to the toggle intermediate the ends of, the toggle for contracting the same, responsive to upward pull on the cable; and a weight on the cable bearing on the toggle for operating the same to extended position responsive to the creation of slack in the cable.

5. A log grapple comprising: an elongated, horizontal support bar; tubular, upwardly convergent guides rigidly secured to the respective ends of the bar, said bar and guides together constituting a support means; links slidably shiftable toward and away from each other within the respective guides; grapple hooks pivoted intermediate their ends on the links outwardly from the ends of the support bar for swinging movement in opposite directions in a common plane between log-engaging and -disengaging positions about horizontally extending axes disposed transversely of the support bar, responsive to movement of the links toward and away from each other; a flexible element connected between one end of the hooks andsaid support means, the other ends of the hooks being formed with log-engaging, confronting teeth; a toggle connected between the links arranged for extension and contraction in a direction longitudinally of the support bar for shifting the links toward and away from each other; a suspension cable connected to the toggle intermediate the ends of the toggle for contracting the same responsive to upward pull on the cable; and a weight on the cable bearing on the toggle for operating the same to extended position responsive to the creation of slack in the cable.

6. A log grapple comprising: an elongated, horizontal support bar; tubular, upwardly convergent guides rigidly secured to the respective ends of the bar; links slidably shiftable toward and away from each other within the respective guides; grapple, hooks pivoted on the links outwardly from the ends of'the supportbar for swinging movement in opposite directions in a common plane be tween log engaging 'and' -disengaging positions about horik zontally extending axes disposed transversely of the support bar, responsive to movement of the links toward and away from each other; a toggle connected between the links arranged for extension and contraction in a direction longitudinally of the support bar for shifting the links toward and away from each other; a suspension cable connected to the toggle intermediate the ends of the toggle for contracting the same responsive to upward pull on the cable, said hooks being pivoted on the links at locations intermediate the opposite ends of the books, the hooks having lower ends formed with confronting teeth engageable in the ends of the log, said hooks having upper end portions projecting above the guides; flexible elements connected between the guides and the upper of the links within the guides; and a weight on the cable bearing on the toggle for operating the same to extended position responsive to the creation of slack in the cable.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,050,479 Long Jan. 14, 1913 FOREIGN PATENTS 904,373 France Feb. 26, 1945 35,983 Norway Oct. 16, 1922 168,592 Switzerland July 2, 1934 

